Chapter I.--Praise of the Philippians.
I have greatly rejoiced with you in our Lord Jesus Christ, because ye have followed the example [339] of true love [as displayed by God], and have accompanied, as became you, those who were bound in chains, the fitting ornaments of saints, and which are indeed the diadems of the true elect of God and our Lord; and because the strong root of your faith, spoken of in days [340] long gone by, endureth even until now, and bringeth forth fruit to our Lord Jesus Christ, who for our sins suffered even unto death, [but] "whom God raised from the dead, having loosed the bands of the grave." [341] "In whom, though now ye see Him not, ye believe, and believing, rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory;" [342] into which joy many desire to enter, knowing that "by grace ye are saved, not of works," [343] but by the will of God through Jesus Christ.
[339] Literally, "ye have received the patterns of true love."
[340] Phil. i. 5.
[341] Acts ii. 24. Literally, "having loosed the pains of Hades."
[342] 1 Pet. i. 8.
[343] Eph. ii. 8, 9.
Chapter II.--An exhortation to virtue.
"Wherefore, girding up your loins," [344] "serve the Lord in fear" [345] and truth, as those who have forsaken the vain, empty talk and error of the multitude, and "believed in Him who raised up our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, and gave Him glory," [346] and a throne at His right hand. To Him all things [347] in heaven and on earth are subject. Him every spirit serves. He comes as the Judge of the living and the dead. [348] His blood will God require of those who do not believe in Him. [349] But He who raised Him up from the dead will raise [350] up us also, if we do His will, and walk in His commandments, and love what He loved, keeping ourselves from all unrighteousness, covetousness, love of money, evil speaking, false witness; "not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing," [351] or blow for blow, or cursing for cursing, but being mindful of what the Lord said in His teaching: "Judge not, that ye be not judged; [352] forgive, and it shall be forgiven unto you; [353] be merciful, that ye may obtain mercy; [354] with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again;" [355] and once more, "Blessed are the poor, and those that are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of God."
[344] Comp. 1 Pet. i. 13; Eph. vi. 14.
[345] Ps. ii. 11.
[346] 1 Pet. i. 21.
[347] Comp. 1 Pet. iii. 22; Phil. ii. 10.
[348] Comp. Acts xvii. 31.
[349] Or, "who do not obey him."
[350] Comp 1 Cor. vi. 14; 2 Cor. iv. 14; Rom. viii. 11.
[351] 1 Pet. iii. 9.
[352] Matt. vii. 1.
[353] Matt. vi. 12, 14; Luke vi. 37.
[354] Luke vi. 36.
[355] Matt. vii. 2; Luke vi. 38.
[356] Matt. v. 3, 10; Luke vi. 20.
Chapter III.--Expressions of personal unworthiness.
These things, brethren, I write to you concerning righteousness, not because I take anything upon myself, but because ye have invited me to do so. For neither I, nor any other such one, can come up to the wisdom [357] of the blessed and glorified Paul. He, when among you, accurately and stedfastly taught the word of truth in the presence of those who were then alive. And when absent from you, he wrote you a letter, [358] which, if you carefully study, you will find to be the means of building you up in that faith which has been given you, and which, being followed by hope, and preceded by love towards God, and Christ, and our neighbour, "is the mother of us all." [359] For if any one be inwardly possessed of these graces, he hath fulfilled the command of righteousness, since he that hath love is far from all sin.
[357] Comp. 2 Pet. iii. 15.
[358] The form is plural, but one Epistle is probably meant. [So, even in English, "letters" may be classically used for a single letter, as we say "by these presents." But even we might speak of St. Paul as having written his Epistles to us; so the Epistles to Thessalonica and Corinth might more naturally still be referred to here].
[359] Comp. Gal. iv. 26.